Racing Point Formula 1🧔 chief Otmar Szafnauer says the team has no plﷺans to sign a new driver when it transitions into the Aston Martin works squad in 2021. 

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has been linked with a potential move to the rebranded team when his current contract expires at Ferrari at the end𒈔 of the year, with uncertainty remaining over the German's future ☂in the sport.

But wi🐠th Sergio Perez contracted to the Silverstone-based outfit until the end of 2022, and Lance Stroll's seat also believed to be secure for the coming years given his father owns the team, Szafnauer stressed there will be no "headline" moves aside from a team 🉐name change. 

"It’s certainly been an interesting few weeks in the🌄 driver market, with some headline-grabbing moves out there," Szafnauer꧑ said. 

"I’m sure it’s kept the fans entertained and the media busy – but from our perspective, the headline for next season is the name above th𒆙e factory doors rather than the names in the cockpit."

F1 confirmed the heavily-delayed 2020 season will begin with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5, kicking off a run of ei๊ght European-based races in the space of just 10 weeks. 

There will be just two weekends without a grand prix between 💮July 5 and September 6, but Szafnauer believes teams are up for the challenge of a hectic and demanding schedule. 

"It’s going to be an intense few mont🍌hs for us all,” Szafnauer explaꦉined.

“But a great de♔al of thought has gone into this calendar from all relevant stakeholders – including the teams, Formula 1, the FIA, the circuit🎃 owners and so on.

“We’re all in agreement that the proposed plan is mওa🦄nageable and, knowing what I know of our team, they’ll relish the challenge.

“At the end of the day, 𝓰we’re all racers. This is our passion and we’re excited to get back to it.

“I applaud the work that has been do𝔉ne by all stakeholders over the pa🐭st three months to get us back racing,” he added.

“Safety is paramount and we’re all treating our return to the racetrack responsibl🔯y. While clearly it won’t be the same without the fans in the grandstands – and we’ll sorely miss their enthusiasm and support – it’s entirely sensible to start the season behind closed doors.

“Doing so in Austria is particularly positive for us as a team given our tie♐s to the cou🦩ntry with BWT, so we’re very much looking forward to it.”